Trick or treating as a teenager can be risky business, with the desire for candy and treats balanced by skeptical homeowners who see anyone older than 10 as too old for a holiday meant for children.

Media team members collaborated to build a guide for teenagers looking to pound the pavement tonight in a quest for goodies and good times.

• Organize a strategy with friends. Pick a place to meet up friends and then trade routes to maximize candy intake
• Go for the houses with most decorations (they will go all out with candy).
• Avoid young couples who only provide healthy alternative snacks. I learned this lesson from my vegan neighbors.
• The more clever the costume, the better. (Make references to 1980’s and 1970’s to score points with the older audience)
• Over politeness is key. It is the best sure fire way to play up the innocence.

From Ermias Nemariam

• Dress up. It doesn’t matter if it’s a costume from Party City or a homemade outfit thrown together from Goodwill clothes. As long as it’s something you enjoy, dressing up will make the night that much more fun.
• Go with a friend. While you can go trick or treating alone,experiences like these are best spent shared with a companion
• Don’t feel you need to be “mature.” You’re never too old to have fun!enjoy yourself ,and don’t feel pressured to “act your age.” You’re still a kid so enjoy it while you can.
• Be whatever you want. Again, tonight is a night for you to enjoy yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you what to be. Express yourself and your interests,and don’t worry what anyone else thinks.
• Be safe. Be careful out there. Stay with an adult or friend, and make sure one of you knows the area well so you don’t get lost. Make sure you check your candy before eating it, and watch for any suspicious holes or open wrappers.

from Jessica Weaver

• Find a costume that won’t have people asking, “What are you dressed up as?” That gets pretty annoying having to answer that question to everyone.
• Get your pet a costume. They will look so cute. and just because they can’t buy a costume doesn’t mean they don’t want to dress up
• Smile when your mom is taking tons of picture of you in your costume. It may be annoying, but it goes by faster if you smile.

from Autumn Young

• Don’t mess with children. Their parents are demonic. If you do mess with children, chances are they’ll tell their parents. You do not want on your back an overstressed helicopter parent who only lets their children eat organic candy.
• Put your extensive knowledge of thievery to snatch your younger siblings’ loot. Chances are their bedtime is before yours, so use this to your advantage. Will they really notice the missing Swedish fish?
• Be the vulture in a flock of dead animals. Children drop their candy; they also have picky taste buds. You probably like the candy they don’t.

from Erin Stanley

• Hide your candy from your parents. Although they may say, “Oh, we don’t need any,” they are lying. They are waiting for you to go to school to steal some. Put it in a safe place. Sacrificing some in order to save the rest is a risk that will ensure your candy’s survival. The best places to hide them are where your parents hide your birthday gifts.

from Clayton Wilkerson